Systems and methods for managing the longevity of an implantable medical device battery

Abstract

A method for managing battery longevity of an implantable medical device (“IMD”) battery includes calculating a total IMD battery longevity value for an IMD and determining whether the total IMD battery longevity is below an optimal battery longevity value. At least one IMD parameter to be modified to improve the total IMD battery longevity value is automatically identified. The at least one automatically identified IMD parameter is adjusted to improve the total IMD battery longevity. Additionally, the improved total IMD battery longevity is displayed.

1. A method for managing battery longevity of an implantable medical device (“IMD”), comprising:
 calculating an elapsed battery longevity value for an IMD battery; 
 calculating a remaining battery longevity value for the IMD battery; 
 calculating a total IMD battery longevity value from the elapsed battery longevity value and the remaining battery longevity value; 
 determining whether the total IMD battery longevity is sub-optimal; 
 displaying at least one IMD parameter that affects the total IMD battery longevity; and 
 adjusting the at least one IMD parameter to improve the remaining IMD battery longevity. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 using the IMD battery to power a cardiac rhythm management device selected from the group consisting of a pacemaker, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (“ICD”), a pacer/defibrillator, and a cardiac resynchronization (“CRT”) device. 
 
     
     
       3. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein calculating a remaining battery longevity value for the IMD battery comprises:
 calculating an IMD current drain value; 
 determining a total battery capacity value; 
 calculating an estimated IMD battery longevity value from the total battery capacity and the IMD current drain value; 
 determining a depth of discharge value; and 
 calculating the remaining battery longevity value from the estimated battery longevity value and the depth of discharge value. 
 
     
     
       4. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the total IMD battery longevity is sub-optimal comprises comparing the total IMD battery longevity value to a nominal longevity value. 
     
     
       5. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the total IMD battery longevity is sub-optimal comprises determining if the total IMD longevity value is below a predetermined value. 
     
     
       6. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein an external programming device receives parameters from the IMD, and further wherein the external programming device calculates at least one of the elapsed battery longevity value, the remaining battery longevity value, and the total IMD battery longevity value. 
     
     
       7. The method as recited in  claim 6 , further comprising the external programming device displaying battery longevity information on a graphical user interface. 
     
     
       8. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein displaying IMD parameters that cause sub-optimal IMD battery longevity comprises an external programming device displaying the parameters on a graphical user interface. 
     
     
       9. The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein adjusting the IMD parameters to improve the IMD battery longevity comprises adjusting the IMD parameters using an external programming device. 
     
     
       10. A method for managing battery longevity of an implantable medical device (“IMD”) battery, the method comprising:
 calculating a total IMD battery longevity value for an IMD; 
 determining whether the total IMD battery longevity is below an optimal battery longevity value; 
 automatically identifying at least one IMD parameter to be modified to improve the total IMD battery longevity value; 
 adjusting the at least one automatically identified IMD parameter to improve the total IMD battery longevity; and 
 displaying the improved total IMD battery longevity. 
 
     
     
       11. The method as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 using the IMD battery to power a cardiac rhythm management device selected from the group consisting of a pacemaker, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (“ICD”), a pacer/defibrillator, and a cardiac resynchronization (“CRT”) device. 
 
     
     
       12. The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein calculating the total IMD battery longevity value comprises:
 calculating an elapsed battery longevity value for the IMD battery; 
 calculating a remaining battery longevity value for the IMD battery; 
 using the elapsed battery longevity value and the remaining battery longevity value to calculate the total IMD battery longevity value. 
 
     
     
       13. The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein calculating the remaining battery longevity value for the IMD battery comprises:
 calculating an IMD current drain value; 
 determining a total battery capacity value; 
 calculating an estimated IMD battery longevity value from the total battery capacity and the IMD current drain value; 
 determining a depth of discharge value; and 
 calculating the remaining battery longevity value from the estimated battery longevity value and the depth of discharge value. 
 
     
     
       14. The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein determining from the total IMD battery longevity value whether the total IMD battery longevity is below the optimal battery longevity value comprises comparing the total IMD battery longevity value to a nominal longevity value. 
     
     
       15. The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein determining from the total IMD battery longevity value whether the total IMD battery longevity is below the optimal battery longevity value comprises determining if the total IMD longevity value is below a predetermined value. 
     
     
       16. A method for managing battery longevity of an implantable medical device (“IMD”) battery associated with an IMD, the method comprising:
 calculating a total IMD battery longevity value using an external programming device programmed to communicate with the IMD, wherein the external programming device calculates an elapsed battery longevity value for the IMD battery, calculates a remaining battery longevity value for the IMD battery, and uses the elapsed battery longevity value and the remaining battery longevity to calculate the total IMD battery longevity value; 
 determining whether the total IMD battery longevity value is sub-optimal; and 
 identifying for modification at least one IMD parameter contributing to sub-optimal IMD battery longevity using the external programming device. 
 
     
     
       17. The method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 providing a graphical user interface for selecting modified values for the displayed IMD parameters, 
 wherein the external programming device programs the IMD with the modified values to improve IMD battery longevity; and 
 displaying the improved IMD battery longevity. 
 
     
     
       18. The method as recited in  claim 16 , further comprising:
 receiving parameters related to battery longevity from the IMD with the external programming device; 
 wherein the external programming device determines from the total IMD battery longevity value whether the IMD battery longevity is sub-optimal. 
 
     
     
       19. The method as recited in  claim 16  further comprising:
 highlighting the IMD parameters identified for modification on a graphical user interface. 
 
     
     
       20. The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein determining whether the total IMD battery longevity value is sub-optimal comprises comparing the total IMD battery longevity value to a nominal longevity value.